Searching for fairness in healthcare

November 17, 2011

Continuing yesterday’s theme of the screwed up health care system, I just read this article about special medical services to give second opinions.  They reevaluate diagnoses and treatments and make changes as needed.

Now, doctors make mistakes.  They are human.  It happens.  I think it is responsible of patients to get second opinions.  So you may be wondering why I think this is a problem.  Here’s why: this service isn’t available to everyone!  I just looked at the Best Doctors web site, since they’re located near me, and I saw that the service is offered only through employers!  This is like the FSA situation, where only some people have access to a fantastic benefit.

Back in the day it made sense to tie health benefits to employment, but is that still really the case?  For those of you living outside of the United States you probably think this is completely nuts.  You’re right!  I’m certainly not about to defend this system.  Why should I get better health insurance now because of where I work than I had the last 10 years (my entire independent working life)?  If I change jobs, why should my benefits change?  If I get a new job that pays more or less or is located someplace else, those aspects will affect my life.  That makes sense.  What doesn’t make sense is that the amount I pay for medical costs will change.  What doesn’t make sense is that I may have to get new doctors.  What doesn’t make sense is that my medication may not longer be covered by health insurance.

Congress failed.  Yes, untangling health insurance from employment would be a huge undertaking, but wouldn’t it be worth it?  Mandating that employers provide health insurance sounds good, until you realize that many will provide only the minimum, and that this doesn’t help the unemployed at all.  We need a system is that is fair for everyone.  We should accept nothing less.

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Leave a Comment » | Educating, Expectations, Frustration, Limitations, Medication, Politics, Rants, Symptoms | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

How broken is our health care system?

November 16, 2011

It is important for everyone to have doctors they feel comfortable with.  For those of us dealing with chronic conditions, it is especially important that we have a medical team we trust and who respects us.

Sometimes I think about leaving the Boston area (the climate here is horrible for me) and it saddens me to think about leaving my family and friends.  But then I think about having to get new doctors, and that terrifies me.  It took me many years to get doctors I like.  In the past year I have had to find a new PCP twice and that has been a horrible experience.  I can not imagine having to start over with a new rheumatologist, a new endocrinologist, etc.  Still, when/if I move, I know that I will have to build up a new medical team.  But that will be my choice, based on my actions.

What upsets me is being forced to change doctors!  To be clear, this is not happening to me personally, but it may be happening to a lot of people in my community soon, and that is very disturbing.

The current health care system is broken on many levels, in many ways.  I would like to say this is an isolated issue, but sadly, it’s not.  According to this article and other reports, a lot of people may have to find new doctors because of a breakdown of negotiations between an insurance company and a hospital.  Corporate negotiations will force people to get new doctors!  How horrible is that?  Now, to be fair, I’m sure patients will be more than welcome to stay with their current doctors if they pay for the costs themselves, but realistically, how many people can do that?

I’m not saying I have all the answers (though I certainly have a few suggestions), but I do know that the system needs to change so that when negotiations break down, patients aren’t the ones being harmed.  It is hard enough to be sick, then to find good doctors, and to negotiate the maze of insurance rules and medical terms and tests and procedures.  To then have that all taken away and be forced to start over, that is criminal.  The Blue Cross and Tufts Medical negotiators must work this out and they must do it now.  There is simply no excuse.

If any of this sounds familiar, if you can relate, please share it on Facebook and/or Twitter.  This blog is new, and it would be great to share it.

Leave a Comment » | Educating, Expectations, Frustration, Healthcare, Intrusions, Politics, Rants | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

Where’s the predictability?

November 14, 2011

Life is unpredictable.  I know that.  And to be honest, I tend to handle change fairly well.  Still, too much change at once is difficult.

Autoimmune diseases are tough to handle, but being able to predict certain things about the day can make a huge difference.  Knowing how active I’ll need to be, when and what I’ll eat, and when I’ll be able to rest all make it a whole lot easier.

While I’m not working, I’m making an effort to set plans in advance so that I have reasons to get out of the house and see people.  This is good for me.  I need and want to spend more time with family and friends.  But for some reason, three different people needed to reschedule our times this week, two others needed to set something up last-minute, and I heard from all of them today!  To them, this isn’t a big deal.  Move a lunch, change a date, switch things around…. easy, right?  But this is making me nervous.  It’s a lot to juggle.  I need to make sure I don’t do too many things on the same day, so I need to find a way to do everything and see everyone in a way that makes me happy and not too worn out.

I don’t know yet how I’ll work all of this out, but at least I know one thing for sure: my health comes first.  I’ll do my best to work out everything else, but I will make sure that I feel good at the end of the week.

 

If any of this sounds familiar, if you can relate, please share it on Facebook and/or Twitter.  This blog is new, and it would be great to share it.

Leave a Comment » | Decisions, Expectations, Frustration, Isolation, Limitations, Rants, Symptoms, Unpredictable | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

Being two people

November 13, 2011

Sometimes the dichotomy amazes me.

I spent the day yesterday indoors.  I read email, watched tv, and did a bunch of other things that at the moment I can’t remember.  I was very aware of the pain I was in.  I was generally unproductive.  I got no exercise (aside from some minor physical therapy.)  It was a gorgeous fall day.  I knew I should have gone outside, but I just didn’t want to.  I suppose I’ve been a bit depressed lately.

Then last night I went to a friend’s party.  I’d been looking forward to this for a long time.  I met some great people and had a lot of fun.  I forgot about the pain.  I wasn’t depressed.  I had a wonderful time and felt great and, aside from avoiding certain foods and being careful how I distributed my weight as I stood, I completely forgot that I had any health issues.  It’s was great.

It was like I was two different people yesterday.  I know that I need to make more of an effort to be that second person.  For starters, I will leave the house before noon every day.  I might just take a walk around the block, but I will get fresh air every morning by leaving my apartment.  I will make more plans with people so that I leave the house.  I will actually do the things on my to do list each day, instead of moving them to the next day (or week.)

That won’t fix everything, but it’s a start.

Leave a Comment » | Decisions, Expectations, Frustration, Isolation, Pain, Rants, Symptoms | Permalink
Posted by chronicrants

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